Combination annealing and decorating leer



Oct. 20, 1936. w. A. MoRToN COMBINATION ANNEALING AND DECORATING LEER Filed Feb. 14, .1934

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` ATTORNEY vPatented Oct. 20, 1936 ooMBINATIoN ANNEALING AND DECORATING LEER William Morton, Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner to Amco, Incorporated, Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation Yof Pennsylvania Applicatiqn February 14,1934, serial N. '211,165

10 Claims. (Cl. 49-47) 1 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in leers for heatV treating glassware, pottery and the like, and it is among the objects thereof to provide a leer structure lwhich shall 5' be adapted to both the annealingrof glassware and also for use in fusing colors or enamels `on Ware' Y Another object of the'invention is the provision of means in a leer structure for heating the 1U leer froma plurality'of sources and by separately controllable heating means,=:or ifdesired lto heat the leer by a single heating source. v

Still a furtherV object of `the invention is the construction of a leer .for enameling .or glazing glassware-which shall beL especially `adaptedto the firing of the glaze or enamelV and for drawing 01T the deleterious fumes or vapors that discolor the ware.

Anotherobject is to accelerateV temperature changes ofthe tunnel atmosphere atv any desired point in the critical annealing range, which is between 750and 1000 F. in ordinary'commercial glasses, along the leer to control the temperature of the atmosphere or heated air and therefore the ware, independent of the temperature of adjacent sections of the tunnel, and independent of the fuel supply.

I provide spaced air admitting means at` the base of the tunnel under the glass, and by means of dampers I am able to regulate the movement of air through the zone in which I desire to control the temperature f the ware. I also provide a similar plurality of air admitting and exhaust means at the top of the glass. Theprincipal o object is to rapidly cool the outer surface of the glass article at desired rates to place the outer of the internal forces in the article in compression and thereby increase the strength and resistance to external shocks in service. The rearrangement of these forces is proved optically, and by practical test it is shown that by such controlled cooling in which the outer portion of the glass article is given desired characteristics, the article is improved forcomrnercial service.. The ordinary method of regulating the temperature by indirect cooling in a muiile is inadequate for this specific purpose of toughening glass. Y

-.None. of the prior. art leers provide a suitable meansY for accomplishing this improvement in glass making, which requires an accelerated cooling. of the outer surface of the article at a rate in excess Vof the normal conductivity of the glass, and in excess of the normal rate of cooling brought about by passing the glass inra rel- Cia atively still atmosphere of air indirectlyl` heated by a muflie to vmaintain. a knormal Yexchange( of.

heat between Vthe* Vfurnace andthe ware..` It'ffisobvious that thismethod may be employed inthe" manufacture of plate, sheet, bottlefoiother glass .y by substitution of the proper conveying mecha` nism in the-leer. V Y Y l Ordinarily, glass has nograin or 'decided molecular arrangementv unless undesirable vsudden chilling of one portion of the article has Yocicurred, then the grain or stress is substantially perpendicular to the surface andthe article has f no strength. 'Under my` proposed method the stresses are controlled Ato give the article agrain Vor stress parallel to the'surfacelby vuniformly cooling thesurface and gives the-article more resistanceto shock perpendicular to the surface.

These and otherfobjects `of the ,invention will become more apparent from a consideration of the accompanying drawing.constitutinga part hereof Vin which'like reference characters desi'f,lrl

nate like parts and in which: v Figure 1 is a side elevational viewvof vaglass annealing and decorating leer embodying the principles of this invention; y v Y, y Figure 2 a topY plan view partially in Ysection fof the front portion of the leer; and j Figure 3a longitudinal vertical cross-sectional yview of the leer portion shown in Figure 2. y

With reference to .the 4several figures of the drawing, the structure therein. il1ustratedcom prises a leer tunnel designated .by the reference numeral I comprising bottom, top and side walls to constitute an elongated heating chamber'. The structure is mounted on rollers 2, Figure 3, to render it transportable in aglassjp1ar1t.y At the forward end of the tunnel I, provision is made for heating through lire boxes or combustion chamv bers 3 and 4, thechamber 3 being separated from the tunnel by relatively thin tile .5 and chamber 4 is similarlyisolated from the. interiorof the tunnel by tile 6 to constitute the treating tunnel a munie chamber. The forward end of the com# bustion chamber 4 is provided with a burner port 'l and burner ports are similarly provided in the side walls of the heating chamber, 'suchv a port being shown at 8, Figure l of the drawing.

The bottom chamber 4 communicates with a longitudinal vflue 9 extending beneath and form-v ing the bottom wall 6 of the leer tunnel l, rthe flue at the mid portion of the leer communicat-V ing with a fire box or combustion chamberll, and thence extends forwardly as shown in rFig-' ure 3 beyond thechamber I0 towards the front of the leer. 5

As shown in Figure 3, a fire box or combustion chamber II is provided in superposed relation with the re box I at the top of the leer tunnel I, this chamber being provided with burner ports I2 and separated from the tunnel I by thin tile I3.

The longitudinal heating flue 9 is provided at intervals with ports I4 connecting through conduit I5 with an exhaust ue I6, the latter extending a substantial distance on the top of the leer to a blower I'I, Figure 1, which through a damper control I8 regulates the withdrawal of the heat from the portions of the flue and heating chambers with which communication is established through the vertical conduits I5 and the connection I9, Figure 3, dampers and ZI being provided to regulate the degree of opening in these passages. g l

As shown in Figure 3, communication is established between the exhaust flue I 6 and the muiiie chamber or annealing tunnel I through short conduits 22 which are provided withcdampers 23, these conduits exhausting the fumes from the heating tunnel, and are used when `glaze or enamel is being baked on `the ware passing through the tunnel.

The Ware is loaded at the front end 24 of the tunnel on an endless conveyor belt 25 which is supported by rollers 26 and 2'I in spaced relation with the tile Wall 6 constituting the bottom of the tunnel I.

As is usual inV leers of this type, the conveyor belt 25 is maintained under suitable tension to support the ware loaded thereon by an adjustable tension means and drive mechanism generally designated at 28.

One of the features of the structure shown are the communicating passages shown between the top and bottom combustion chambers 4 and 5, these passages being designated by the reference Anumeral 29, and` similar passages being shown at 30 in the re box IIl to establish communication between the chamber I0 and the upper heating chamber I I. Burner ports 3| are provided at the sides of the bottom combustion chamber I 9. The vertical flues 30 carrying the waste gases to the bottom flue are controlled through tiles in openings 32, Figure 1.

Provision is made for admitting air to the annealing tunnel through spaced openings 33 having regulating dampers 34. Also exhaust connections may be provided at the bottom of the tunnel, such as the exhaust passages 3'! of the vertical conduits I5 controlled by damp-ers 38.

Provision is made for admitting air to the annealing tunnel through short conduits at the top of the tunnel spaced between the conduits 22, dampers 36 being provided to regulate the amount of air so admitted.

' The operation of the above described leer structure is briefly as follows: The ware to be treated is placed on the conveyor belt 25 at the forward end of the annealing tunnel in any suitable manner as by auxiliary conveying means or the like and the belt 25 is caused to travel through the tunnel at a regulated speed. Heat is supplied by the combustion chambers 3, 4, II! and II, and by means of the exhaust ports and conduits I4 and I5 respectively, the heat can be drawn backwards or forward from the i'lre boxes through the flue 9 and heat can be drawn from the front top chamber 3 down the side flues 29 into the longitudinally extending bottom flue 9, thence forwardly along the length of the tunnel or can be Withdrawn at intervals through the ports I4.

By operating dampers 29 and 2 I,i the direction and volume of the moving gases can be regulated as desired and the degree of exhaustion of the hot gases through the conduits and the exhaust flue I6 Vcan be further regulated by a damper 20-a at the forward endv of the exhaust flue.

By regulating dampers 23 the fumes or gases released in the heating chamber I can be with-- drawn through the exhaust flue I6 so as to prevent any discoloration of the ware being treated.

One mode of using the leer, as for example if it is employed for annealing the glassware only' would consist of shutting off the heating chambers II) and II and heating the leers entirely by heat drawn from the front heating chambers 3 and II.- If la minimum annealing temperature is desired the lower chamber 4 alone may suflice to produce the heating medium which is drawn lon-n gitudinally through tunnel 9, for any portion of the length Aof the flue 9, and if additional heat is required the `upper chamber 3 may be red and the heat drawn downwardly through side nues 29 to the heating flue 9.

Y When the leer structure is employed for glazing or enameling Ware, the central chambers I0 and II are also red and the heat drawn either forwardly or in both directions depending upon the adjustment of the dampers 2I and the rate of exhaustion of the gases through the exhaust conduit I6.

n By means of the combined heating chambers at the forward and mid portions of theV annealing leer,A the maintenance of suitable annealing and glaze firing temperatures are greatly facilitated, and by the `additional controllable exhaust means, the proper temperature gradient can be readily established and maintained. I

By manipulating dampers 23 of the'exhaust members 22 and dampers 34 of inlet passages 33, the movement of air through the zone, in which it is desired to control the temperature of the ware, maybe controlled so as to rapidly cool the outer surface of the glass article at desired rates to place the outer of the internal forces in the article in compression and thereby increase the strength and resistance to external shocks in service. The surface treatment of the glass by rapid cooling may be increased by the admission of air through the openings controlled by dampers 36 in the top of the annealing tunnel.

As in other leer structures, the rear end of the annealing tunnel is open for removing the ware from the leer after it has reached room temperature.

I claim:

1. In a leer for heat treating glass, a tunnel constituting a mulile chamber, a conveyor for the glass spaced between the floor and roof of the tunnel to transport the glass therethrough, inlets spaced above the conveyor to admit cold air to the tunnel, dampers for the inlets to regulate the air admitted, outlets spaced above the conveyor to remove heated air from the tunnel and dampers for the outlets to regulate the heated air removed from the tunnel.

2. In a leer for heat treating glass, a tunnel constituting a muiile chamber, a conveyor for the glass spaced between the floor and roof of the tunnel to transport the glass therethrough, spaced inletsabove and below the conveyor to admit air to the tunnel, spaced outlets above and below the conveyor to remove heated air from the tunnel, and damper means associated with the said inlets and outlets to selectively control the admission and removal of air along the tunnel. 3. The method of controlling the strength of glass in an annealing and heat treating process which comprises passing the glass through a muied tunnel, heating a wall of the tunnel by passing a current of heated gases therebeneath,

regulating the heating of said wall by varying the quantity of gases flowing in selected portions of the path of travel thereof to retard the cooling of the glass and passing relatively cold air currents uniformly in direct contact with the glass in the critical annealing range to arrange 4`the internal stresses of compression and tension in parallelism With the surface of the glass.

4. A leer for heat treating glassware comprising a tunnel constituting a'muiile chamber having a critical heat treatment zone, a flue associated with said tunnel, means for causing heated gases to flow through said flue, spaced air inlets to the tunnel interior adjacent the critical heat treatment zone of the tunnel, means to accelerate the ow of air into the tunnel to cool the glass and means to maintain a relatively normal atmospheric condition in adjacent portions of the tunnel.

5. A leer for treating glassware comprising an annealing tunnel, a conveyor for moving glassware therethrough, regulable heating means at the forward end of said tunnel, additional regulable heating means for maintaining the temperature in the critical heating zone of the tunnel, a temperature regulating heating flue extending longitudinally at the bottom of said tunnel beyond said last named heating means constituting one wall of said tunnel and both of said heating means, and an exhaust flue at the top of said tunnel having Ya plurality of longitudinally and laterally disposed damper controlled passages communicating With the bottom flue and having damper controlled passages to said annealing tunnel.

6. In a leer for heat treating glass, an annealing tunnel of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length, an endless conveyor for transporting the Ware from end to end through said tunnel, a heating flue coextensive with and located beneath said tunnel, a Wall of the flue forming one wall of the tunnel, means for establishing critical heating zones at selected portions longitudinally of the tunnel, and means intermediate and'beyond said heat zones for supplying cooling air to the ware passing through the tunnel.

'7. In a leer for heat treating glass, an annealing tunnel of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length, an endless conveyor for transporting the Ware from end to end through said tunnel, a heating iiue coextensive with and located beneath said tunnel, a Wall of the liue forming one wall of the tunnel, longitudinally spaced top and bottom fire boxes, each of the juxtaposed re boxes having communicating flues and the bottom fire boxes communicating through said bottom heating ues, an exhaust manifold above and exteriorly of the tunnel, having damper controlled exhaust flues communicating with the bottom heating flue and With the bottom ofthe annealing tunnel, and damper controlled exhaust fiues communicating withV the interior of the annealing tunnel lin the top thereof,

the arrangement of fire boxes, heating flues and exhaust fiues being such that the Warepassingthrough the tunnel can be subjected to critical annealing temperatures while passing through the critical range of the tunnel, precise temperature conditions being secured and maintained in the direct environment of the exhausting flues. 8. In a leer for heat treating glass, an annealing tunnel of uniform cross-sectional -area throughout its length, an endless conveyor rfor transporting. the Ware from end to end through said tunnel, a heating flue coextensive with and located beneath saidtunnel, a wall of the iiue forming one Wall of the tunnel, top and bottom re boxes for heating the tunnel, said re boxes communicating with the aforementioned heating ue, exhaust means for said heating flue and Y tunnel and air inlets vto the top and bottom of the tunnel, means for regulating the temperatures in the heating flue at intervals longitudinally thereof, and independent means for regu-v lating the temperature ofthe tunnel by exhausting the heating medium at longitudinal intervals, said exhaust means cooperating with the air inlets to produce a forced circulation of cold air throughout the critical temperature range of the tunnel at the portions of the tunnel Where the air inlet and exhaust means are located.

9. In a leer for heat treating glass, an annealv ing of the Ware at desirable longitudinal intervals of the tunnel.

10. In a leer for heat treating glass, an annealing tunnel of uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length, an endless Vconveyor for transporting the Ware from end to end through said tunnel, a heating flue coextensive With and located beneath said tunnel, a Wall of the ilue forming one Wall of the tunnel, heating means communicating with said ue, regulable means for exhausting the heating medium from the tunnel and flue at longitudinal intervals of the tunnel and flue, and air inlets to the tunnel cooperating with the exhaust means to draw cold air through desired portions of the tunnel While the ware is passing through the critical temperature range of the tunnel.

WILLIAM A. MORTON. 

